Electric smelting apparatus.



865,285. PATENTED SEPT. 8,1907.

J. G. YOUNG. ELECTRIC SMELTING AI ARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.16,1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 865,285. PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907. J. C. YOUNG,

ELECTRIC SMELTING APPA RATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.16, 1907.

4 SHBBTS SHEET 2.

qvibxcmcg; gn-ucnfoz W W wm? No. 865 285. PATENTED SE J. G YOUNG, PT 8, 190?.

ELECTRIC SMELTING APPARATUS.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 APPLICATION FILED J'AN.16.1907.

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ELECTRIC SMELTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JANJGIlJO'I.

4 SI IEETSSHEET -L.

PATENT orrion.

JAMES C. YOUNG, O l JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SMELTIN G APPARATUS.-

. Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Applicatio filed January 16,1907. serial No. 352,483.

t ric Sinelting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric smelting app-arm tus, for combining elements to form compounds, such for instance as calcium-carbid, carbornndum or compounds of a similar character .nid also for reducing refractory oxids.

It is well known that in proportion to the increase'of heat in most electrical conductors of the first class their conductive properties are decreased, this being for the reason that heat destroys the density of its structure by causing a separation of the molecules thereof and the formation of numerous cells between them, therefore it is an object of my invention to construct the receptacles, in which the smelting process takes place, separate from one another so that the entire outer surface of each will be exposed to the cooling influence of the air and so that heat will not be conducted from one to another, thereby redneing the resistance, in the receptacles,to the passage of an electric current to the minimum.

Another object of my invention is to construct the receptacles, in which the smelting process takes place, with removable bottoms so that when the bottoms become burnediout they may be removed and replaced by others, thus obviating the necessity" of substituting cntiroly new receptacles and also allowing thebottoms to be formed of material best suited to stand the intense heat necessary for the smeltingprocess, for instance wrought iron.

- Another object of myinventiou is to provide means for feeding the mixture into the receptacles in such quantities that it will be thoroughly fused, ihusinsuring the formation of a perfect product and allowing'a continuous operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for bringing the recep'ho in which the smelting process takes place, int position 21 required and re moving them after the process: has taken place to dis charge the product and cool off previous to again being brought into use.

Anolhrpobject of this inv nt ion is to provide an apmu'runsmf this character embodying adv-.wI-ages in pint of perfect operation and simplicity and inexpensivl-ness of onstruction.

in tho drawings: Figure I is a side elevation of my apparatus. Rig. 2. a plan view thereof. Fig. 3-3" a fragmentary deluil transverse vcrlical sectional View, on an enlarged scale, showing the means for feeding the carbon, the hopper. the means for mixing the in'gre-.

rdienfs in the hopper and forcing them therefrom and one of the receptacles in which the smelting process takes place. Fig. l, a fragmentary detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the knifo contact. Fig. 5, a fragmentary detail sectional view, on an en larged scale, showing the spring pressed locking pin for holding the hopper in place over the receptacles in which the smelting process takes place.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the figures of the drawings illustrating my invention. v i

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a base having a vertical standard 2 secured thereon the upper end 3 of which is curved and receives the rear curved end 4 of an oscillatory arm 5 provided with ears 5 receiving a vertical shaft 6 rotatably supported on antifriction balls 7 interposed between its lower end and the base and in ears 8 on the vertical standard and antifriction balls 9 are interposed between the lower ear of the oscilla'tory arm and the ear on the standard just below it. thereby adapting the vertical shaft to be easily rotated and the arm to be easily oscillated on said shaft.

A pin 10 is slidably mounted in a bore 11 in the curved. end 3 of the standard and normally held in ongagement with a bore 12 in the curved end 4 of the 0scillatory arm by a spiral spring 13 the outer end of which is secured to said pin and the inner end bearing against a shoulder in the bore 11, thereby providing means for locking said arm and a handle 14 is secured to said arm to provide means for oscillating it.

An electric motor 15 is secured to the base at the rear of the standard 2 and is operatively connected with the vertical shaft 0, so as to revolve it, by a worm "16 secured on its commutator shaft 17 and meshing with a worm-gear 18 loosely-mounted on the shaft and supported upon a collar 18 secured to said shaft,. the upper end having an interior conical recess adapted to be normally frictionally engaged by a spring pressed conical sleeve 18 slidably mounted on the shaft 6 by means of a groove therein engaging. a feather 18 on said shaft and an' exterior circumferential groove loosely engaged by a collar 18 pivotally supported on the inner end of a foot-lever 18 pivoted on the st-aiidaid 2, from which it will be understood that the wormgear 18 will be normally held fixed on said shaft 6 between the collar 18 and the sleeve 18', but when the foot lever is pressed upon, the sleeve no will be moved out of engagement with the worm gear .gainst the action of the spring and the wornegear lS allowed to turn on the shaft 0, the friction clutch thus pro vided being for temporarily stopping the agitator and scrapers. v

A conical hopper 19 open at the top and bottom is suspended from the horizontal end 20 of the oscillatory arm by brackets 21 the lower endsof which are secured to a ring 22 secured to the top of the hopper and the ,npper ends'to the under face of the oscillatory arm,

said hopper being formed of an upper section 23 and against the inner laces oi said sections and being s= a lower section 24 secured together by a ring 25 bearing ured thereto by screws 26, said ring also having a circular shoulder 27 against the upper face of which the lower end of the section 23 abuts and against the lower lace of which the upper end oi the section 24 abuts, thus providing means for separably connecting said sections together and tor properly adjusting the sections with relation to each other when fitting them to gether.

To the lower end of the ring 25 is secured by screws 28, a perforated dish 29 through which the mixture to be fused is fed to the receptacles in which the smelting process takes place, the lower sc ti n 24 serving to deliver the mixture in a circular mass around the carbon,-to be described, and thereby assuringthat the mixture will be properly fused.

Vertical standards 30 and 30" are secured to the op posite end of the base from that of the standard 2 and are" provided with insulated hearings in their upper ends in which a horizontal shalt 1 is rotatably mounted and has a hub 32 secured thererm, between the stand ards 30 and 30, said 'hub having radial arms 33 provided with square sockets receiving the squared ends of the handles 34 which are removably secured therein by set screws 35 and provided on their outer ends with receptacles or ladlos "3G in which the fusing process takes place.

Each receptacle embodies an upper conical shaped ring 37" having a flange 38; a lower circular ring 39, having a flange 40 and a circular bottom il interposed between the flanges oi the rings and secured in place by bolts 42 having nuts thereon, thereby provi-(ling for the removal of the bottom, when it becomes burncd out, and the substitution of a. new bottom.

A sleeve 42 is secured to the shaft 31 adjacent the standard 30" and provided with blades 43 one of which is adap ed, each time a receptacle is brought into the proper position under the hopper by the rotation of the shaft 3], to engage the blades 44 secured to a plate 45 which is insulatcdfrom and secured to the upper enli of a verti all standard -16 secured to the base, and to disengage said blades 44 when said receptacle is moved out of position by the further rotation of the shaft; 31, said blades constituting a knife switch.

A disk 47 is secnred to and insulated from the shalt 3i and provided with notches 48 adapted to be ergaged by the end of a gravity arm or dog 49, pivoted on the upper end of the standard 30, to lock thcshat't 31 and thereby hold one of the rcc ptaclles in position under the hopper and one of the l' ladcs 43 ,,in contact with the blades 44;

A hand wheel 50 is secured to the outer end of the shaft- 31 to provide means for rotating it when it is desired to bring a receptacle into position under the hopper and to contact the blades of the knife switch or to move a receptacle out. of position and separate the blades of the, knife switch.

The arm 5 isprovide'rl with a vertical bore 5. through which the upper threaded end of a metallic sleeve 52 projects and is secured by a threaded collar :33 screwed thereon and having a flange 54 secured to the arm 5 by bolts 55 having nuts thereon, the upper end of said sleeve having a threaded car t screwed thereon and provided with a central hole 5'7.

The lower end of the sleeve 52 is secured to the perforated dish 29 by screws 58 and said sleeve has a tilling of insulating material 59 provided with a bore tit) of small diauu-tcr leading from the top into abore til at larger diameter in its lower end he upper end of a metallic sleeve (52 extends through a bore tilt in the vertical yoke fi t secured on the arm 5 by bolts (idlraving nuts tlu-reon and said sleeve has a filling of insulating material tltt having a bore (37 ot' a diameter corresponding to that of the bore (50 in the insulating filling ol' the sleeve 512 and flanges (37 and (38 7 bearing against the ends of the sleeve 62.

iilliug and threaded nuts tit) engaging threads on thev ends of said tube and bearing mus-aid washers and the lower end of the tube fit) is secured to the upper end of a metallic tube oi like diarnr-ir r by a threaded sleeve 71 migaging threads on said tubes said tube 69 being slidablc in the bore ot the insulating filliugot' the sleeve 52 and its loivcr end projecting into the large bore in the insulating material of said slieve 52 and being pro vided with threads engaged by threads in the upper end of a collar T2 slidable in said large bore and receiving the upper end of the carbon 73 which is remov ably secured therein by a binding screw 74. A flanged sleeve 75 rotatably mounted on a circular flange 7t; of the sleeve 52 and antifrictiou balls 77 are interposed between said tlaugcs to allow the slceve 75 to move easily on the sleeve 52.

To the flange of the sleeve 75 is secured, by means of bolts 78 having nuts thereon, an agitator 7S) embody ing arum 80 connected together :tidlttlt ttids by rings S0 and 8t)" and having laterally extending lugs 81 for stirring up the mixture in the hopper and keeping it from forming into lumps and in holes in the lowcrend of the arms 80 are secured, by set screwstZ, scrapers 83 Wl\l(l't bear on the perforated disk of the hopper thereby keeping the holes open and forcing the Inii-itare therethrough into the receptacles. A sprocket chain Stconnects a sprocket wheel 85 secured on the shai't G with a sprocket wheel 86 secured on the sleeve 75 and thereby transmits motion to the sleeve 75 when the shaft 6 is rotated.

The upper end of a shaft 87 is journaled in a lateral projection of the yoke and provided with tr conical worm t t? engaging a rack 39 secured to the sleeve 62 and the lower end of said shalt is jonrnaled in a lat eral projection ol the arm and provided with a. collar 90 secured thereon and holding the shaft in place and-a hand wheel 91 secured thereon and by which the shaft 87 may be turned to raise and lower the carbon inanually, although any snitableincans may be employed for this purpose. I

An electric circuit is provided for establishing the are, which includes the-elcctric conducting wires 92,

a dynamo 93, a, rbeostat 94, a switch 95, the tubes 69 i and 7 0, the collar 72, the carbon 73, the receptacles and their handles, the horizontal shaft 31, the blades 43 and i t ot' the lmife switch and the plate 45.

The operation oi my apparatus, for instance, to form calcium-carbid is as follows: Simultaneously one of the receptacles 36 is moved into position and the blades of the knife switch connected by turning the hand wheel 50 and said receptacle and the blades of the knife switch automatically locked by the engagement of the dog 19 with one of the notches oi the disk 47, the hopper 19 is moved into position by means of the handle 14 and automatically locked by the pin 10, a mixture of pulverized carbon and lime is fed into the hopper, the carbon 73 is lowered into contact with the bottom of one of the receptacles, the motor 15 is started revolving the agitator and the scrapers, which force the mixture from the hopper into the receptacle beneath it, the switch 95 is closed, the rheostat is thrown on and the carbon raised simultaneously, thus establishing an are between the receptacle and the carbon, whereupon the mixture will become fused forming calcium-carbid and when the receptacle becomes filled with calcium-carbid, the current is then switched off by means of the switch 95 the carbon raised, the hopper unlocked and swung out of the .way and finally the receptacle is unlocked and revolved out oi the way, which causes itto turn upside-down and dis charge its contents and this operation is repeated until suliicient calcium-carbid is formed.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details and arrangements of parts shown and described, but reserve the right to all modifications within the scope of my invention. I

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. in an electric smelting apparatus. a carbon forming one pole and a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming: the other pole,

whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles. one at a time. and the carbon, substantially as described.

1., In an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming the one pole, a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles. one at a time, and the carbon. 1

and means for feeding, material to said arc, substantially as described.

I in an electric smelting apparatus. a carbon forming one pole, a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rota tion in a vertical plane and forming the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles. one at a time. and the carbon. and a hopper adapted to feed material to said arc, substantially as described. i 4. in an electric smelting apparatus. a carbon forming one polc, a series of spaced rcccptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other p'ol'e, where by an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles, one at a time, and the carbon, and

a laterally movable hopper adapted to feed material to said are. substantially as described.

5'. In an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming one pole, a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other pole, whereby an arc is adaptcddto be established or interrupted between said rccc nacles. one at a time, and the carbon, a'

tween said receptacles, one at a time, and the carbon, a hopperadapted to feed material to said are and means rotatable in said hopper for agitating the material and forcing it therefrom, substantially as described.

7. In an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming one pole, a series of spaced receptaclesmounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles, one at a time, and the carbon, :1 laterally movable hopper adapted to feed material to said are and means rotatable in said hopper for agitating the material and forcing it therefrom, substantially as described.

8. In an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming one pole, a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and foriningthe other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said rcceptacles, one at a time, and the carbon, a

hopper having a perforated bottom and adapted to feed material to said are-substantially as described.

9. in an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming one pole. n'series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or.interrupted between said receptacles, one at a .time, the carbon, a laterally movable hopper having a perforated bottom, and adapted to feed material to said are, substantially as described.

10. In an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming one pole, a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said reeeptaclcs. one at a time, and the carbon, a laterally movable hopper having a perforated bottom and adapted to feed material to said are and means rotatable in said hopper for forcing the material therefrom, substantially as described.

11. In an electric smelting apparatus, a carbon forming one pole. a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotution in a vertical plane and forming; the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said rcceptacles, one at a time, and the carbon, a laterally movable hopper having a perforated bottom and adapted to feed material to-said arc, and means rotatable in said hopper for agitating the material and forcing it therefrom, substantially as described.

1:3. In an electric smelting apparatus, an adjustable carbon forming one pole, 'and a series of spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and forming the other pole. whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles, one at a time, and said carbon, substantially as described.

131. in an electric smelling apparatus, an adjustable carbon forming one pole. a mounted for rotation in a vertical plane and formin the other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles. one at a time. and said carbon and means for fer-ding material to said arc, substantially as described.

14. in an electric smelting apparatus, an adjustable carbon forming one pole, :1 'cs oi spaced receptacles mounted for rotation in a vet other pole, whereby an arc is adapted to be established or interrupted between said receptacles, one at a. time, and said carbon, means for agitating the material and means for feeding said material to said arc, substantially as de scribed.

Signed at ilew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this lflth day of January, A. D 1907.

JAMES C. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

A. B. BLACKWUU A. it. llonnrzu.

"iles of spaced receptacles ll plane and forming the 

